FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1920, Page 8

FARM AND DAIRY.

I THE DA TRY INDUSTRY. ITS GRKAT GROWTH. In 1011 the number of dairy cows and heifers was given us 804,078, and the combined exports of butter and cheese amounted to 741,501 cwt., valued at £2,778,748, The year 11)14 brought with it a greatly-increased production and a much larger return, the combined butter and cheese output far export being 1,207,843 cwt,, valued at £4,51."),032. hi 1015 there was a slight falling off in production, the, exported output being 1,237,402 cwt., valued at ,£4,014,371. In 1010, after a lapse of Jive years, the live stock census was again taken, and disclosed that the number of dairy cows and heifers had fallen to 750,323. Despite the smaller herds, the export output was nearly double in quantity, and more than double in value of that in 1011, the export amounting to 1,305,04S cwt., valued at £0,140,<i03. The subsequent history of the industry is one of steadily increasing herds, and save in 1017, of a successively larger export output, while values have risen phenomenally. In 1017, when the dairy cows and heifers were numbered at 777,112, the combined export of butter and cheese amounted to 1,140.148 cwt., valued at £5,080.802. In 10)8, witli 703,215 cows and heifers, the export was 1.314,408 cwt., valued at £7,4,80,501, and in 1010, with 820,135 cow's and heifers is approximately 882,850, and cwt., valued at £0,01)4.327.' For the year ending June 30, 1020, the number of cows and heifer, the export was 1,551,002 the. export was 1,03-1,002 cwt., valued at £0,187,323. Between 1011 and )<l2O the number of cows and heifers lias in creased by 0.8 per cent., the volume of butter and cheese production for export by 120.5 per cent,, and the value of the produce exported by 230.7 per cent. In the same period, accepting the estimate of the Dairy Division's expert, the value of the dairy herds of the Dominion has risen from £3,035,000 to £17.057,080. The stock market not only locally l says the Dannevirke News), but in I'ahiutua and elsewhere, is not in a very nourishing condition at present. Cat lie are not in demand, the only really saleable lines being good 15-month heifers. Prices for anything else arc down to bedrock. One of the causes is said to be the reluctance of the firms associated with this class of business to take any unnecessary risks at. the present time, and the dillicul,\v in getting financial accommodation is restricting ooerationp